How to Prevent Mosquito Bites When Travelling Out of Season in 4 Steps
Travelling out of season in South Africa has distinct advantages. However, getting malaria when travelling to malaria hotspots is a reality, especially during the wet season. Off-season prices might seem attractive, but these might be the high season for malarial mosquito activity.
Malaria is still one of the most virulent infectious diseases and can lead to death when untreated. There's a much higher risk of getting malaria if you travel to an affected area. It's very important you take precautions to prevent the disease.
How to Avoid Malaria When Travelling Out of Season in 4 Steps
Avoid malaria by applying a practical approach when travelling with these 5 steps.
Step #1 - Educate Yourself About the Risk of Malaria
Find out whether the area you are visiting is a high-risk malaria area. Questions you need to ask yourself about this mosquito-borne disease include:
- Are you visiting a high-risk malaria area or country? Find out whether there is a peak season for infections to avoid.
- Visit your doctor or ask your pharmacist for any malaria advice you might need, including preventative medications.
- Are you a local? Growing up in a malaria area does not make you immune. You still need to take preventative medication to protect yourself from malarial infections.
- Start with something as simple as insect repellent to avoid a risk of infection.
- Remember that no one has 100% immunity from immunity. We lose any natural immunity the moment you move outside of a malaria area.
Step #2 - Take Precautions to Prevent Mozzie Bites When Travelling
Prevention is better than the cure for mosquito bites. Here are a couple of smart ways to prevent mozzies bites. The less mozzie bites you get, the smaller the chances are that you could contract malaria.
- Ensure there is no stagnant water around your accommodation. This could be still water in flowerpots or fishponds.
- Use Mozzie Patches because they are great for the whole family as a safe mosquito preventative. They will last for 36 hours, and you can bath, shower and swim with them on.
- Use effective repellents to avoid bites. Mosquito repellent and mosquito coils are all good deterrents. Both are excellent for protection from mosquitoes.
- Wear light coloured, loose clothing instead of tight-fitting, dark clothes. Mosquitoes can bite through cloth and are attracted to dark clothes.
- Cover bare skin. Avoid the temptation of wearing skimpy shorts and t-shirts in hot weather. Protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants are one of your best preventative measures.
- Stay indoors from dusk to dawn, as this is a period of high mosquito activity. Mosquitoes are most active at this time of day.
- Sleeping with mosquito netting is excellent for additional protection. Spray these with insecticide sprays as an added preventive measure.
- A fan is great for cooling off a room. It is also a great deterrent for mosquitoes with flimsy wings.
- Wherever possible, find lodging with air conditioning units.
- Be sure to close all windows and doors properly.
- Mesh screens on windows and doors are good for keeping mosquitoes out.
Step #3 - Pursue Early Diagnosis of Malaria if Symptoms Appear
If you suspect you have any malaria symptoms, contact healthcare providers immediately. Symptoms can appear for up to a year after visiting a malaria hotspot! You might experience mild symptoms, such as fever or muscle pains. Keep an eye out for abdominal pain, joint pain, and other adverse effects of malaria. Doing this can save your life.
Step #4 - Take Anti-Malarial Medication.
Anti-malarial meds can reduce your risk of contracting malaria by 90%. Even so, you are not 100% safe, as this is just one limited protection against the disease. Currently, there is no vaccine available for malaria. Taking your anti-malarial meds is vital when travelling to malarial hotspots. Before you leave on your trip, you need to speak to your doctor or pharmacist. There's a right way and a wrong way to take your anti-malarial medication. You need to take the right ones before you take that trip to avoid any allergic reactions while travelling.
- Pay your doctor or chemist a visit the moment you plan your trip.
- If you are unsure which meds to take, check with your medical advisor. South Africans can speak to a medical practitioner who is registered with the HPCSA.
- Always read the product instruction with care and follow them.
- Continue taking your medication after you return. This will depend on what type of anti-malarial tablets you take. This will ensure it covers you for the incubation period of malaria infections.
- Some anti-malarial medications might give you side effects. Check with your doctor if you can tolerate these.
- If you suffer from chronic diseases, your doctor will advise you. Some of these could include HIV and Aids. They could also include mental health issues and seizures.
- Kidney and heart conditions are other conditions affected when taking anti-malarial medication.
- It is important to check with your doctor if you take the contraceptive pill.
Use Mozzie Patches to Help Prevent Malaria Infection When Travelling Out of Season in South Africa
Off-peak seasons can include the rainy season. It may be the perfect time to save on your next holiday, but off-peak season could also mean more mosquitoes. Protection against mosquitoes is, therefore, important when travelling to malaria areas in Southern Africa. The active ingredients in Mozzie Patches are an excellent deterrent, whether you travel in season or out of season. If you visit malaria hotspots, it is wise to take the right preventative measures. Include Mozzie Skin Patches in your arsenal and stay safe this holiday season.
